Storage tank



J. M. CHITTIM Sept. 27, 1938.

STORAGE TANK Filed Sept. 2, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 21 dames MCNHim J. M.CHITTIM Sept. 27, 1938.

STORAGE TA'NK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1937 I Z'H'UCMM dames M.Chiflim lines.

Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED} STATES PATENT OFFICE s'ronnon TANK JamesM. 0111mm, sm Antonio, Tex. Application September 2,1937, Serial No.162,127

5 Claims. I (01. 62-1) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in storage tanks and in particular to the dispensing andregulating means connected with said tanks.

In localities where natural gas is not" available from pipe lines, it issometimes the practice to use a private storageta'nk, usually locatedunderground, .wherein liquefied butane; propane, or a mixture of similargases may be stored. A service line leads from thetank to the point ofuse, thus providing a gassupply similar to that provided by theaforementioned natural gas pipe For safety, these tanks are constructedwith a number of valves and pipes which require attention to insuretheir proper operation.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide improveddispensing means mounted on such a tank as described, wherein all thenecessary valves and pipes are mounted on a single plate or head, sodesigned that the whole assembly may be removed as a unit, to beserviced or replaced.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved dispensing meansfor a storage tank wherein a suitable housing is provided for thedispensing means, said housing being easily removable without entailingany excavation.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved dispensingmeans for a storage tank wherein allowance is made for the surroundingearth to shift or settle without causing a fracture of, or putting anexcess strain on, the supply pipe, and thereby occasioning a fire hazardby allowing the gas to escape.

A still further object of this invention is-to provide improveddispensing means for a storage tank wherein the various valves aremounted directly in a head instead of on pipes which would be liable tobreaking and cracking, thus setting up a hazardous condition.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved dispensing meansfor a storage tank, having an inlet valve and a vapor valve, whereby ahose leading from the bottom of a portable fuel supply which is utilizedto flll the underground tank, may be connected to the inlet valve, andanother hose connected from the vaporvalve to the top of said supplytank,'thus setting up a vapor balance between the two tanks, which 7enables a gravity feed to be used in fllling the storage tank and stillallows no gas or vapor to...

escape to the open air.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinatferdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an-example of the invention is shown and wherein: i

' Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device mounted on a storage tank,

Figure 2 is an end view of the same with the housing broken away to showthe interior construction,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 cf-Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on 15 the line 5-5 ofFigure 2, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure4.

In the drawings the numeral i0 designates an elongated cylindricalstorage tank of the usual I0,

type used for underground storage of liquids. It is designed so as torest on angular supports ii, and has a circular opening in its uppersurface ll wherein a flanged collar I2 is welded or other-- wisesuitably mounted. A cap plate l3, which 25 carrieselements to bedescribed later, is secured to, the flanged collar by bolts ll.Supporting bars- I! extend radially from the flange ofthe collar andhave their inner ends secured thereto by the bolts I. The lower end of acylindrical housing I surrounds the flange I! of the collar l2 andthecap plate l3, and has its upper end projecting slightly above the groundlevel when the tank is suitably situated in the ground. The housing hasangular retaining members i1 35 welded to its lower inner surface, whichmembers' are located to rest upon the bars ii, to which theymay befastened by bolts l8, whereby the housing It is suitably supported. Aswill be seen in the drawings, the housing has vertical 40 walls and isof suflicient diameter as to allow the ready removal of the cap plateI3'and its supported elements. Also by removing the bolts I! the housingitself may be removed if so desired. A cover I! is secured to thehousing by a hinge 20 and fastened by a hasp 2|, allowing it to belocked, whereby tampering may be guarded against. The cover preventsforeign matter and excess water from enteringthe housing and in- 50juring the contents thereof. As is shown in Figlire '5, the housing hasan open bottom 22, whereby any water entering said housing may flow out.Also, notches Ii are provided in the wall of the housing at the upperend thereof and permit extending down in the tank.

vapors which may accumulate within the housing to escape therefrom.

The dispensing and regulating apparatus proper consists of a pluralityof inlet and check valves, all mounted in the cap plate l3. This allowsthem to be serviced as a unit, and to be easily removed and replaced ifdesired. The whole unit consisting of the cap plate and valves may beremoved and replaced with a similar unit. In this manner the gas supplyis not cut off for any appreciable length of time.

The valves may be mounted in any convenient fashion but it is preferableto mount them as shown in the drawings. An inlet or filler valve 30 ismounted on the cap plate, being threaded into a screw-threaded opening3i in said plate. A back flow check valve 32 is threaded into the bottomportion of the opening 3|. The inlet valve is so constructed that whenthe hose from the supply truck (not shown) is placed thereon it willopen the valve. Should the truck move during the filling operation, andbreak the hose, the back flow check valve 32 would automatically closewhen the gas started escaping and prevent any further loss. When thetank is not being filled these two valves are inactive and serve as adouble seal against leakage. A slip tube gauge 33 for indicating theliquid level in the tank is mounted in the plate l3 and has its tube 34When these storage tanks are refilled, the filling is done by a gravityfeed. Usually in cold weather there is a pressure differential betweenthe service or supply tank and the storage tank which is mounted in theground. For equalizing the pressure in the two tanks a vapor valve 35 isprovided in the cap plate l3. A hose is connected from the bottom of thesupply tank to the inlet valve, thereby opening the latter, and anotherhose is connected from the vapor valve to the top of the supply tank.Any pressure difference adjusts itself through the second hose, thusallowing the liquid to flow from the truck by gravity to the storagetank underground. An excess flow check valve 38 is mounted in the sameopening as the vapor valve 35, and extends into the tank. Should thesecond hose which is connected to the valve 35 break, any loss or escapeof vapor would be prevented. It is pointed out that both the vapor valve35 a and inlet valve 30 are manually operated and that both are normallyin a closed position. A safety relief valve 36 is also provided to takecare of any sudden increases in pressure which would exceed the safeoperating pressure of the storage tank.

A supply line 39 leads from the cap plate l3 to conduct the gas to itspoint of use. A valve 40 similar to the valve 38 is mounted on the inletend of this line whereby, should the supply line break, the valve 40would automatically cut off the vapor passing to the line and thusprevent the loss of gas. A manual shut-off valve 4| is located in thesupply line to allow the supply of gas to be shut ofi completely. Aregulator 42 of the diaphragm type is mounted in the supply line betweenthe shut-off valve and the point of use and this regulator serves tokeep the pressure constant at any predetermined range. If the pressureexceeds the range chosen as safe for operating conditions, alow-pressure valve (not shown) mounted within the diaphragm housingvents any excess pressure through an opening 42' until the excessivepressure has subsided. The supply line leaving the regulator and passingthrough the side wall of the housing is of copper tubing and has asingle loop or spiral therein. The tubing being of copper, and havingthe loop, is of sufficient flexibility to allow considerable shiftingand settling of the tank and housing without a fracture occurring. Alsoa disturbance such as an earthquake or nearby explosion would not crackthe supply line and allow gas to escape. The copper line is connected tothe regulator by a coupling 43. By disconnecting this coupling and thebolts ll the cap plate and valves are easily removed.

Each of these valves is obtainable on the open market and is subject tovariation. Each valve serves an individual and specific purpose as setout hereinbefore. When the tank and housing is suitably buried in theground it is desirable to place a mixture A of pea-gravel and sand atthe bottom of the housing, as is shown in Figure 1, thereby preventingdirt from washing into the housing and insuring the proper drainage ofwater therefrom.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A storage and dispensing system for liquified gases, including, astorage tank having an opening therein, a cover plate mounted in saidopening, an inlet valve mounted in the cover. plate, a back flow checkvalve mounted on the cover plate below the inlet valve so that the twovalves communicate, a vapor valve mounted on the cover plate, an excessflow check valve mounted on the cover plate below the vapor valve sothat the two communicate, a safety valve mounted on said plate, a gaugemounted on said cover plate whereby the liquid level in the tank may beascertained, a supply line leading from the cover plate, a pressureregulator mounted in the supply line, and an excess flow check valvemounted in the cover plate below the supply line so that the line andvalve communicate.

2. A storage and dispensing system for liquified gases including, astorage tank having an opening therein, a cover plate mounted in saidopening, an inlet valve mounted in the cover plate, a back flow checkvalve mounted on the cover plate below the inlet valve so that the twovalves communicate, a vapor valve mounted on the cover plate, an excessflow check valve mounted on the cover plate below the vapor valve sothat the two communicate, a safety valve mounted on said plate, a supplyline leading from the cover plate, a pressure regulator mounted in thesupply line, and an excess flow check valve mounted in the cover platebelow the supply line so that the line and valve communicate.

3. A storage and dispensing system for liquified gases including astorage tank," a removable housing on said tank, a cover for saidhousing, a service line extending into said housing, a support for theservice line in said housing, controls in said housing also carried bysaid support and removable as a unit therewith, said housing having itslower portion provided with drainage means to allow water to passtherefrom, said housing having its upper portion beneath said coverprovided with gas discharge means.

4. A storage dispensing system for liquified gas including a storagetank, an upstanding collar on said tank, a support on said collar, ahousing for said support of larger diameter than said collar, a serviceline extending into said housing and carried by said support, controlsalso carmeans to permit egress of water from its lower portion andhaving its upper portion beneath said cover provided with gas dischargemeans.

5. A storage and dispensing system for liquified gas including a storagetank, an upwardly disposed portion extending from said tank, a plateclosing said upwardly disposed portion, a service line extending abovesaid plate, controls for admitting and releasing the contents of the 10tank, said service line and controls being supported at least in part bysaid plate, a housing forming an enlarged extension of said upwardlydisposed portion, said housing being supported at least in part by saidupwardly disposed portion, a cover for said housing, said'housing beingprovided with drainage means to prevent escape of water from its lowerportion and additional means for permitting escape of gas from its up-

